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LAST TO GO
By ANDREW CAPEL
The Advertiser, 17jun04
ADELAIDE'S longest-serving player and sole survivor of its inaugural team, Nigel Smart, is the first casualty of Adelaide's rebuilding program.
Smart, 35, yesterday announced he will play his club record 278th and final AFL game against the Western Bulldogs at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.
But while the 15th-placed Crows have vowed to "lay the foundation" for next year by blooding rookie Fergus Watts and developing promising forward Ben Rutten – both in line to play against the Bulldogs with injury doubts over Wayne Carey and Mark Stevens – they do not expect more players to retire before the season's end.
With Adelaide unable to replace retirees on its playing list, a massive cleanout will wait until September as the Crows sit out the finals for the first time in four years.
"We don't expect any more retirements," Adelaide chief executive Steven Trigg said.
The Crows have not spoken to Wayne Carey, 33, about his future, nor fellow 30-somethings Ronnie Burns and Matthew Clarke. All are in the final year of their contracts.
Carey, enjoying a fine season, has indicated he will retire while Burns, who has played just two AFL games this year, is likely to be delisted.
Clarke has been Adelaide's best ruckman and is expected to be offered a new one-year deal.
*So there you have it - unless we have some serious injuries to players and they cant play the second half of 2004 - we cannot promote rookies.With Adelaide unable to replace retirees on its playing list, a massive cleanout will wait until September as the Crows sit out the finals for the first time in four years.
By ANDREW CAPEL
The Advertiser, 17jun04
ADELAIDE'S longest-serving player and sole survivor of its inaugural team, Nigel Smart, is the first casualty of Adelaide's rebuilding program.
Smart, 35, yesterday announced he will play his club record 278th and final AFL game against the Western Bulldogs at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.
But while the 15th-placed Crows have vowed to "lay the foundation" for next year by blooding rookie Fergus Watts and developing promising forward Ben Rutten – both in line to play against the Bulldogs with injury doubts over Wayne Carey and Mark Stevens – they do not expect more players to retire before the season's end.
With Adelaide unable to replace retirees on its playing list, a massive cleanout will wait until September as the Crows sit out the finals for the first time in four years.
"We don't expect any more retirements," Adelaide chief executive Steven Trigg said.
The Crows have not spoken to Wayne Carey, 33, about his future, nor fellow 30-somethings Ronnie Burns and Matthew Clarke. All are in the final year of their contracts.
Carey, enjoying a fine season, has indicated he will retire while Burns, who has played just two AFL games this year, is likely to be delisted.
Clarke has been Adelaide's best ruckman and is expected to be offered a new one-year deal.
*So there you have it - unless we have some serious injuries to players and they cant play the second half of 2004 - we cannot promote rookies.With Adelaide unable to replace retirees on its playing list, a massive cleanout will wait until September as the Crows sit out the finals for the first time in four years.






